Mr.  Holme  '/s 
FAST      SERMON, 

April  i^  1799. 


A 

SERMON 

PREACHED    AT 
BRATTLE-STREET  CHURCH,  IN  BOSTON, 

A  N  n 
AT    CAMBRIDGE, 

APRIL   25,    1799, 
THE    DAY    APPOINTED 

BY    THE 

PRESIDENT  of  the  UNITED  STATES 

FOR  A 


By  ABIEL   HOLMES,  A.  M. 

Paftor  of  the  Firft  Church  in  Cambridge. 


BOSTON: 

PRINTED    FOR    YOUNG    Sif    MINNS. 
1799. 


: 


THIS    DISCOURSE 
i  s, 

WITH  GREAT  RESPECT, 

INSCRIBED 
TO  THOSE   OF  ITS  AUDITORS 

AT    £OS<T  ON, 
AND    AT    CAMBRIDGE, 

WHO  REQUESTED  A  COPY  OF  IT  FOR  THE  PRESS, 

B  Y 

THE  AUTHOR. 


SERMON. 


2  CHRONICLES  xxxii.  5,  6,  7,  8. 

Alfo  he  Jlrengthened  himfelf,  and  built  up  all 
the  wall  that  was  broken,  and  raifedit  up  to  the 
towers  •,  and  another  wall  without,  and  repaired 
Millo  in  the  city  of  David,  and  made  darts  and 
Jhields  in  abundance.  And  he  fet  captains  of 
ewar  over  the  people,  and  gathered  them  together  to 
/him  in  tbejireet  of  the  gate  of  the  city,  and  f  pake 
comfortably  to  them,  faying,  Bejlrong  and  cour- 
ageous, be  not  afraid  nor  difmayed  for  the  king 
of  Affyria,  nor  for  all  the  multitude  that  is  with 
him  :  for  there  be  more  with  us  than  with  him  : 
with  him  is  an  arm  of  Jlejh  ;  but  with  us  is  the 
our  GOD,  to  help  us. 


IN  the  reign  of  Hezekiah,  king  of 
Judah,  to  whom  this  portion  of  facred  hiftory  refers, 
the  Aflyrian  empire  was  potent  and  formidable.  Its. 
ambition  was  proportioned  to  its  ftrength,  nor  was 
it  to  be  fatiated  by  any  thing  fhort  of  univerfal  do- 
mination. It  had  recently  fubjugated  Darnafcus,  the 
capital  of  Syria,  and  fubverted  the  Syrian  kingdom. 
!t  had  befieged  and  taken  Samaria,  imprifoned  its 

ivilSOGSO 


[     6    ] 

king,  carrifed  the  people  into  captivity,  and  com- 
pletely deftroyecl  the  kingdom  of  Ifirael.  The  king- 
dom of  Judah,  fmall  in  extent,  but  abounding  in 
wealth,  whofe  capital,  in  particular,  was  opulent,  and 
whofe  temple  had  long  beep,  accumulating  into  its 
facred  treafury  the  richeft  gifts,  prefented  the  next 
object  for  its  rapacity  arid  fubjugation.  This  king- 
dom had,  in  fact,  become  tributary  to  Affyria,  dur- 
ing the  reign  of  Hezekiah's  father,  who,  awed  by  the 
terrible  power,  and  over-reached  by  the  infidious  pol- 
icy, of  the  Affyrian  king,  had  given  the  ruinous  pre- 
cedent of  buying  a  temporary  peace  with  a  tribute. 
This  is  that  king  Ahaz. — Let  his  name,  aflbciated  with 
the  worft  of  vices,  and  with  the  moft  egregious 
error  in  government,  be  a  perpetual  monitor  to  men 
in  power,  to  teach  them  the  importance  of  perfonal 
religion  in  rulers,  of  profound  penetration,  and  of  an 
early  and  fledfaft  refufal  to  furrender  the  rights  of 
their  fubjefts  to.  a  foreign  power, — -One  article  in 
the  compact  between  Ahaz  and  the  Affyrian  king 
ftipulated,  that  the  latter  fhould  furnim  affiftance  to 
the  former  againft  his  furrounding  enemies.  How 
was  this  article  fulfilled  ?  Exactly  as  we  have  feen 
fimilar  articles  fulfilled  in  our  own  times.  The  king 
of  Affyria  came  unto  him,  and  diftrejjed  him,  butftrength- 
ened  him  not.  For  Ahaz  to»k  away  a  portion  out  of  the 
houfe  of  the  Lord,  and  out  of  the  houfe  of  the  king,  and  of 
the  princes*  and  gave  it  unto  the  king  of  AJfyria :  but  he 
helped  him  not. 

The  nation,  which  once  confents  to  wear  the  chains 
of  fervitude,  will  not  eafily  throw  them  off.  No. 
fooner  was  Sennacherib  feated  oi\  the  Affyrian 
throne,  than  he  renewed  the  demand  of  the  tribute, 
which  his  father  had  exacted  from  Judah.  Hezekiah, 
who  had  now  fucceeded  his  father  Ahaz  in  the  regen- 
cy of  this  kingdom,  treated  the  demand,  at  firft,  as  it 
(ieferved.  Viewing  it  as  imperious  and  unjuft,  he, 
refufed  to  fatisfy  it."  Upon  this  refufal,  Sennacherib 
declared  war  againft  him,  and  entered  Judea  with  q. 

powerful 


t   7   3 

powerful  army.  So  rapid  were  his  fucceffes,  and  fb 
entirely  were  all  the  fenced  cities  of  Judah  foon  per- 
ceived to  be  in  his  poffeflion  ;  that  the  good  king 
Hezekiah,  to  prevent  the  further  effufion  of  blood, 
and  to  fave  his  threatened  capital,  fent  ambafiadors1 
to  him,  to  defire  peace  on  any  terms  which  he  mould 
fee  fit  to  prefcribe  :  /  have  offended,  return  from  me  ; 
that  •which  thou  putieft  on  me  I  will  bear.  After  fucb 
fubmiffion,  a  very  modeft  requifition  was  not  to  be 
expected.  And  the  king  of  AJJyria  appointed  unto  Heze- 
kiah, king  of  Judah ,  three  hundred  talents  of  Jtlver,  and 
thirty  talents  of  gold  ;  which,  in  our  currency,  amount 
to  more  than  a  million  of  dollars.*  Who  is  not 
ftruck  with  indignant  horror,  at  the  view  of  the  fa- 
crilegious  means  to  which  this  pious  prince  was  con- 
ftrained  to  have  recourfe  for  the  fulfilment  of  his 
contract  ?  And  Hezekiah  gave  him  all  thefiher  that  was 
found  in  the  houfe  of  the  Lord,  and  in  the  treafures  of  the 
king's  houfe*  At  that  time  did  Hezekiah  cut  off  the  gold 
from  the  doors  of  the  temple  of  the  Lord,  and  from  th$  pil- 
lars which  Hezekiah  king  of  Judah  had  overlaid,  and  gave 
it  to  the  king  of  AJ/yria^ 

This,  however,  was  confidered  by  that  rapacious 
prince  as  a  mere  earneji,  or  what  would  be  termed, 
in  modern  times,  a  douceur,  introductory  to  fome- 
what  more  fubftantial.  In  truth,  no  regard  what- 
ever was  paid,  by  that  perfidious  tyrant,  to  the  fo- 
Jemnity  of  oaths  and  treaties. — After  a  fiiort  inter- 
val of  time,  in  which  he  was  employed  in  purfuing 
and  vanquifhing  the  combined  army  of  the  Egyp- 
tians and  Ethiopians,  he  returned  with  his  victorious 
army,  encamped  before  Jerufalem,  and  commenced 
a.  new  fiege. 

It  was  at  this  eventful  crifis,  when  every  thing 
was  put  to  the  hazard,  that  king  Hezekiah,  in  con- 
cert 

*  300  talents  of  filver,  eftimating  a  talent  (according  to  Dollars. 

«he  Bjihop  of  Peterborough)  at  £.353.11  llerling,  =  441900 

JO  talents  of  gold,  eftimating  a  talent  at  £.5075.15,    =.  634470 

Total         1,076,370 
t  9  Kings,  xviii. 


[     8     3 

cert  with  the  princes,  of  Judah,  took  thofe  decifive 
and  vigorous  meafurcs  of  defence,  which  have  al- 
ready been  recited.  The  combination  of  perfidy, 
rapacity,  and  oppreflion,  which  marked  every  meafure 
of  the  terrible  monarch,  no  longer  admitted  the  hope 
of  a  permanent  treaty  of  peace  ;  and  his  actual  hof- 
tilities,  before  the  very  gates  of  Jerufalem,  required 
that  the  citizens  within  mould  inftantly  prepare  to 
diftrefs  the  enemy,  and  to  defend  themfelves.  The 
king,  as  the  true  father  of  his  people,  was  foremoft 
in  this  noble  enterprize.  When  Hezekiah  faw  that 
Sennacherib  'was  come,  and  that  he  was  purpofed  tojight 
again/1  *Jerufalem  ;  he  took  counfel  with  his  princes,  and 
his  mighty  men,  to  flop  the  waters  of  the  fountains,  which 
•were  without  the  city  ;  and  they  did  help  him.  So  there 
was  gathered  much  people  together,  whojiopt  all  the  foun- 
tains, and  the  brook  that  ran  through  the  nudjl  of  the  land, 
faying,  Why Jhould  the  kings  ofAJ/yria  come  and  find  much 
water  ?  ALSO  he  Jirengtbened  himfelf,  and  built  up  all  th« 
wall  f  hat  was  broken,*  and  raifed  it  up  to  the  towers, \ 
and  another  wall  without,  and  repaired  Millo  In  the  city 
of  David,  and  made  darts  andjhields  in  abundance.  And- 
he  fet  captains  of  war  over  the  people,  and  gathered 
them  together  to  him  in  thejtreet  of  the  gate  of  the  city,  and 
fpake  comfortably  to  them,  faying,  Bejlrong  and  courageous, 
be  not  afraid  nor  difmayedfor  the  king  of  Ajjyrla,  nor  for 
all  the  multitude  that  is  with  him  :  for  there  be  more  with 
us  than  -with  him  :  with  him  is  an  arm  ofjlejh  ;  but  with 
us  is  the  LORD  our  God,  to  help  us. 

This  pafTage  of  facred  hiftory  will  lead  us  to  mew, 

I.  That,  when  the  liberties  of  a  people  are  threat- 
ened, it  is  the  duty  of  the  Chief  Magiftrate  to  be  ac- 
tive and  vigorous,  in  preparing  the  means  of  defence  :. 

IL  That,  after  fuch  preparation,  it  is  the  duty  of 
the  People  to  be  firm  and  refolute,  in  a  humble  reli- 
ance on  Almighty  God.  In 

1     • 

*  Chap.  xxv.    43. 

t  The  Hebrew  feenis  to  fignify  crefleJ  town  «W.      It  was  the-  ancient 
method  of  defending  cities  to  ereft  towers  OH  the  walls. 


C    9    J 

In  the  FIRST  place  :  When  the  liberties  of  a  people 
are  threatened,  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Chief  Magi  (Irate 
to  be  active  and  vigorous,  in  preparing  the  means  of 
defence. 

The  pious  and  patriotic  king  Hezekiah  was  more 
than  juftifiable,  in  the  defenfive  meafures  which  he 
took  to  fecure  his  capital ;  he  did  what  the  national 
crifis  required  him  to  do,  in  his  official  capacity,  as 
an  act  of  duty.  To  have  neglected  thefe  meafures, 
would  have  been  not  only  to  have  fported  with  the 
property,  but  with  the  liberties  and  lives,  of  his  fub- 
jecls  ;  to  have  betrayed  the  facred  truft  committed  to 
his  charge  ;  and  to  have  entailed  flavery  and  mifery 
on  his  nation.  In  every  cafe,  therefore,  of  fimi- 
hr  danger,  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Chief  Magiftrate 
to  imitate  the  example  of  this  wife  and  good  prince. 
For,  i.  -Self-prefervation  is  the  firft  law  of  Nature. 
Life  is  the  firft  and  greateft  of  bleflings,  pertaining 
to  the  prefent  fcene  of  things  ;  and  it  is  the  duty  of 
every  human  being  to  ufe  all  lawful  means  to  pre- 
ferve  it.  The  love  of  life  is,  accordingly,  a  principle 
deeply  implanted  in  the  human  breaft  :  ancL,  as  in- 
ftinct  impels  even  irrational  animals  to  make  inftant 
refiftance  to  whatever  violence  threatens  their  lives ; 
fo  man,  naturally,  by  an  inftantaneous  act  of  renfon,  is 
excited  to  repel  every  violence,  by  which  his  life  is 
endangered.  Such  refiftance  is  fo  natural,  and  fo 
univerfal,  that,  far  from  queftioning  its  lawiulnefs, 
or  expediency,  mankind  have,  in  every  age,  con- 
lidered  it  as  one  of  the  primary  laws  of  Nature. 
And  if,  by  the  very  conftitution  of  things,  it  appears 
to  have  been  the  original  defign  of  the  all-wife  Crea- 
tor, that  refiftance  fhould  be  made  in  the  defence  of 
life  ;  then  it  is  every  man's  duty,  when  the  cafe  re- 
quires it,  to  make  fuch  refiftance.  Who  doubts 
whether  the  traveller,  when  peaceably  purfuing  his 
journey,  if  attacked  by  a  high-way  robber,  may  law- 
fully\ife  violence  in  his  own  defence ;  and,  if  necef- 
fary,  put  to  death  the  affailant  on  the  fpot  ?  Whp 
B  doubts 


C     io    ] 

doubts  whether,  in  fo  imperious  a  neceflity,  this  were 
not  an  act  of  duty  ? 

If  this  reafoning  is  juft  when  applied  to  individuals  j 
it  is  equally  juft  when  applied  to  nations.  The  argu- 
ment, indeed,  in  this  application,  has  ftill  greater 
force.  A  nation  is  cornpofed  of  individuals.  If, 
then,  the  law  of  Nature  authorizes  an  individual, 
when  his  own  fafety  requires  it,  to  oppofe  violence 
to  violence  j  how  much  more  does  it  authorizes 
community,  when  the  lives,  the  liberties,  the  happi- 
nefs,  of  thoufands  and  millions  of  the  human  race 
are  endangered  ? 

To  render  the  cafe  parallel,  and  this  reafoning  from 
analogy  juft,  I  would  be  underftood,  in  both  inftances, 
to  have  in  view  imminent  and  extreme  danger. 
Neither  the  law  of  Nature  requires,  nor  does  the  ge- 
nius of  our  divine  Religion  admit,  any  acts  of  vio- 
lence which  are  not  abfolutely  neceflary  to  felf-de- 
fence.  The  individual,  therefore,  mould  be  well  af- 
fured  of  imminent  perfonal  danger,  before  he  pro- 
ceeds to  violence  ;  and  the  nation  mould  be  well  a£» 
fured  of  imminent  national  danger,  before  it  com- 
mits any  hofHle  ael. — Let  the  degree  of  danger,  how- 
ever, be  great  or  fmaif,  it  is  an  incumbent  duty,  in 
each  cafe,  to  prepare  to  meet  it.  And,  in  the  cafe  of 
national  danger,  as  the  Chief  Magiftrsite  is  the  grand 
Reprefetttative  of  the  whole  nation,and  as  he  is  fpecial- 
ly  entrufted  with  the  guarclianmip  of  its  liberties,  and 
with  the  execution  of  its  laws ;  it  is  incumbent  on 
him  to  take  active  and  vigorous  meafures  for  its  de- 
fence. I  add,  their, 

2.  iVotecHon  is  the  grand  object  of  civil  govern- 
ment. Why  was  the  noble  inftitution  of  SOCIETY 
originally  devifed  and  eftablifhcd  ?  Doubtlefs  with  a 
view  to  general  fecurity.  Man,  alone,  is  a  feeble  as 
well  as  folitary  being.  HW  many  beafts  of  the  foreft 
are  altogether  fuperiorto  him,  in  ftrength  and  agili- 
ty !  But  for  that  aid  which  he  derives  from  fociety, 
how  perpetually  would  he  be  cxpofed  to  their  fero- 
city 


c  ii  : 

city  and  violence  !  It  was  primarily  to  obtain  protec- 
tion from  that  violence  and  ferocity,  that  mankind 
iirft  formed  themfelves  into  focieties.  When  the 
numbers  of  the  human  race  became  multiplied  ; 
when  their  vices  became  numerous, and  their  interefts 
various  and  oppofite  ;  when  Ambition  began  to  aim 
at  empire,  and  Avarice  at  plunder  ;  Society  was 
found  to  be  the  only  afylum  from  human,  as  well  as 
from  brutal,  violence.  Has  man,  then,  become  the 
enemy  of  man  ?  Who  does  not  blulh  to  acknowledge 
an  humiliating  truth,  which  the  annals  of  paft  ages 
have  recorded,  and  which  the  melancholy  experi- 
ence of  our  own  age  hath  confirmed  ? 

If,  then,  protection  is  the  grand  object  of  fociety, 
it  is  equally  the  grand  object  of  civil  government  : 
for  the  delign  of  government  is  to  protect  the  com- 
bined members  of  fociety  in  the  fecure  enjoyment  of 
their  rights  and  bleflings.  It  muft,  therefore,  be  the 
duty  of  the  Chief  Magiftrate, — who  is  placed  at  the 
head  of  the  government  to  preferve  its  energies  for 
the  benefit  of  the  community, — to  be  vigilant  of 
danger,  and,  when  neceflity  requires,  to  be  active  and 
vigorous  in  preparing  the  means  of  defence. 

3.  Without  fuch  preparation,  the  aggreflions  of 
an  enemy  are  invited.  That  government,  which  is 
capable  of  opprefllon  and  rapacity,  is  capable  of  fraud 
and  perfidy.  It  makes  not  juftice,  but  power,  the 
rule  of  its  adminiftration.  On  its  faireft  profeflions 
of  friendfhip  no  reliance  can  be  placed  ;  on  its  hon- 
our, or  integrity,  no  confidence  can  be  repofed. 
One  advantage  gained  encourages  its  attempt  at  a 
fecond  ;  And  if  it  find  a  city  broken  down,  and  isjith- 
6ut  walls i  there  it  is  fure  to  make  entrance,  for  the 
purpofe  of  fpoil,  or  of  tribute.  When  the  AfTyrian 
king  had  pledged  his  royal  word  to  withdraw  nis 
armies  from  Jerufalem,  and  to  let  Judea  remain  at 
peace,  on  condition  of  paying  the  tribute  which  he 
was  pleafed  to  exact ;  it  was  fondly  imagined  that  a 
permanent  peace  was  purchafed.  But  fcarcely  had 

the 


[  1*  ] 

the  affrighted  and  fpoliated  inhabitants  begun  to  rc- 
fpire,  bctore  the  fame  king,  with  the  fame  armies, 
appeared  again  before  their  gates.  The  three  hun- 
dred talents  of  filver,  and  the  thirty  talents  of  gold, 
made  a  deep  impreflion  ;  and  MORE  MONEY  muft  be 
the  price  of  future  liberty  and  peace.  Had  not  the 
Jewiih  \dnvftrengthened  himfelf*  by  building  up  the  brok- 
en wall,  erecting  towers,  repairing  Mil/a,  and  making 
darts  and  jhields  in  abundance  ;  the  next  demand  of  his 
OLD  ALLY  would  unqueftionably  have  fwept  off  the 
fraall  relics  of  gold  and  filver,  that  his  former  extor- 
tion had  left,  rendered  the  people  perpetually  tribu- 
tary, and  rivetted  their  chains  forever.  They  would 
have  deferred  thofe  chains  ;  for  their  fupinenefs  and 
negligence  would  have  invited  the  enemy  to  thefe 
new  aggrefiions.  No  political  maxim  is  founded  on 
a  more  juft  obfervation  of  men  and  things,  or  is  more 
perfectly  confirmed  by  the  events  of  the  prefent  day, 
than  that  memorable  obfervation  of  the  revered  and 
beloved  WASHINGTON,  in  one  of  his  public  Ad- 
dreffes  ;*  To  BE  PREPARED  FOR  WAR  is  ONE  OF  THE 

MOST  EFFECTUAL    MEANS  OF   PRESERVING   PEACE. 

But  may  not  a  negotiation  preclude  the  neceility  of 
hoftile  preparations  ?  —  By  no  means.  Its  import- 
ance, where  there  is  any  probability  of  fuccels,  we 
prefume  not  to  deny.  Would  to  God,  that  all  na- 
tional controverfies  could  be  decided  by  its  inftru- 
mcntality  !f  But,  in  the  ftate  of  things  juft  defcri- 
bed,  it  "  is  but  a  fecondary  and  auxiliary  inftniment. 
Its  efficacy  is  derivative.  It  is  ufeful  and  neceflary, 


f 

*  At  the  opening  of  Congrefs,  January  8,  1789-  "  Among  the  many  in- 
tcrcfting  objects,  which  will  engage  your  attention,  that  of  providing  for  t/j. 
ccmmun  defines  will  merit  particular  regard-  T0  be  prepared  for  war  is  one 
of  the  moft  effectual  means  of  preferving  peace."  --  If  fuch  counfel  was 
judged  iulutary  ten  years  unce,  when  our  nation  enjoyed  profound  tranquil* 
lity  ;  how  much  more  neceflary  and  fcafonable  is  it  no-w,  when  our  national 
peace  is  difturbed,  and  our  national  exiftence  endangered  ? 

f  The  evils  and  the  iniquity  of  cfenf-.-e  war,  and  its  repugnance  to  the 
£pirit  and  precepts  of  the  gofpel,  are  admirably  depiSed  in  The  Complaint  of 
Peace,  and  in  other  writings  of  the  great  ERASMUS,  contained  in  an  o*Save 
•volume,  which  appears  to  have  been  tranilated  by  Vi:tf:rnus  Kntx. 


E    '3    3 

in  order  to  adjuft  the  ceremony  and  manage  the  de- 
tails of  pacification  ;  but  the  effential  impreilion  and 
the  final  effeft  depend  upon  the  arrangements  that 
are  made  at  home,  upon  the  power  and  energy  of 
the  government,  and  the  fpirit  of  the  people.  If  to 
mere  negociation  be  given  a  leading  agency  ;  if  the 
refources  and  fpirit  of  the  nation  are  fuffered  to  flum- 
ber,  while  ambafiadors  are  fent  forth  to  make  idle 
complaints,  to  petition  for  redrefs,  and  to  reafon 
with  the  enemy  ;  the  certain  refult  will  be  frefli  in- 
fults,  accumulated  hoftiiity,and  increaling  danger."* 

To  guard,  then,  againft  thefe  evils,  let  whatever 
meafures  of  pacification  be  adopted,  meafures  of  pro- 
tettlon  ought  uniformly  to  accompany  them.  In  ev- 
ery dangerous  crifis,  therefore,  it  is  the  duty  of  the 
Chief  Magiftrate, — whofe  province  it  is  to  fave  the 
State  from  detriment,!— to  be  active  and  vigorous 
in  preparing  the  means  of  defence. 

In  the  SECOND  place  :  After  fuch  preparation,  it 
is  the  duty  of  the  People  to  be  Srm  and  refolute,  in 
a  humble  reliance  on  Almighty  God.  When  the 
patriotic  prince  had  put  himielf  into  a  pofture  of  de- 
fence, he  aflembled  the  people,  and  fpake  comfortably 
to  them.  Bejlrong  -and  courageous ,  faid  he,  be  not  afraid 
nor  difinayedfor  the  king  of  Affyria^  nor  for  all  the  multi- 
tude that  is  ivitb  him. 

In  every  cafe  of  fimilar  danger,  it  is  incumbent  on 
a.  people  to  exercife  the  fame  firmnefs  and  refolu- 
tion,  as  were  here  recommended  to  the  citizens  of 
Jerufalem. 

i.  The  juftice  of  their  caufe  mould  infpire  them 
with  fortitude.  The  inftance  of  national  danger, 
with  which  the  facred  hiftory  has  furnilhed  us,  is 
one,  where  a  powerful  and  oppreffive  monarch,  in 
violation  of  promifes,  and  oaths,  and  treaties,  ad- 
vanced to  plunder  and  enilave  a  people,  which  he 
deemed  too  feeble  to  make  any  effectual  refiftance. 

Who 

•  Letters  0,1  tie  PiUtL-s  of  tie  Day.     Lett.  XIII. 

f  Ne  (juid  Refpublka  detriment!  capcret,  Chsrs. 


Who  does  not  inftantly  perceive,  that  fo  flagrant  an 
outrage  demanded  an  immediate  and  decided  oppo* 
fition  ?  It  was,  without  queftion,  the  juftice  of  the 
caufe  which  at  once  awakened  the  merited  indigna- 
tion of  Hezekiah,  and  infpired  him  with  fufficient 
fortitude  to  attempt  the  defence  of  his  capital,  againft 
the  formidable  power  of  the  Affyrian  monarch.  He 
had  done  nothing  to  deferve  this  hoftile  treatment. 
He  was  an  upright,  peaceable,  and  pious  prince.  It 
is  a  character  afcribed  to  him  in  the  facred  annals, 
that  he  wrought  that  which  was  good  and  right,  and 
truth  before  the  Lord  his  God.  Well,  therefore,  might 
he  and  his  people,  convinced  that  they  had  truth  and 
juftice  on  their  fide,  be  ftrong  and  courageous.  The 
vaft  difparity  between  their  power  and  forces,  com- 
pared with  thofe  of  their  adverfary,  were  of  no  con^ 
fideration  when  put  in  competition  with  confcious 
integrity.  When  any  people  fuffer  the  fame  wrongs, 
and  can  plead  the  fame  juftice  of  their  caufe,  it  is 
their  duty  to  fhew  firmnefs  and  refolution  in  defence 
of  their  rights. 

2.  Defpondency  will  diminifh,  but  courage  will 
increafe,  the  energies  of  a  nation.  When  danger  ap- 
proaches, the  moment  it  is  viewed  too  formidable  to 
/encounter  with  fuccefs,  there  is  no  more  fafety.  De- 
fpair  will  inftantly  appal  every  heart,  and  paralize 
every  arm.  Individual  heroifm  will  attempt,  or,  if 
it  attempts,  will  effect,  nothing  noble  and  great,  in 
the  general  torpor.  The  combined  forces  of  the 
State  will  be  incapable  of  being  brought  into  decifive 
operation.  The  fupinenefs  and  timidity  of  the  peo- 
ple will  be  difcovered  by  the  enemy,  which  muft 
now  perceive  itfelf  invited  to  an  eafy  conqueft,  Such 
are  the  natural  effects  of  national  defpondency, 

Of  national  courage,  in  the  time  of  public  danger, 
the  effects  are  juft  the  reverfe.  This  animates  every 
heart,  and  nerves  every  arm.  It,  at  once,  prompts 
individuals  to  the  nobleft  deeds  of  valour,  and  in- 
fpires  the  nation  with  a  united  zeal,  in  defence  of  its 

liberties 


C    '5   3  . 

liberties  and  its  laws,  its  altars  and  its  hearths.*  It 
collects  the  energies  of  the  whole  to  a  fmgle  point, 
and  directs  them,  with  irrefiftible  force,  wherever 
danger  approaches,  like  the  flatting  Jword  winch  turn- 
ed every  way  to  keep  the  way  of  the  tree  of  life  t 

Does  not  Hiftory  give  us  examples  of  thefe  effects 
of  national  courage  ?  Who  has  not  obferved  them  in 
the  fuccefsful  refinance  made  by  the  petty  flares  of 
Greece  to  the  vail  empire  of  Perfia  ?  Who  has  not 
obferved  them  in  that  noble  vindication  of  the  rights 
of  freemen,  formerly  attempted  and  achieved  by  the 

republics  of  Holland  and  Switzerland  ? -I  forget 

not  my  own  countrymen.  It  was  their  united  and 
heroic  courage  which,  under  GOD,  refcued  the  Amer- 
ican States  from  oppreflion,  and  eftablilhed  their  lib- 
erty. It  muft  be  added, 

3.  That  the  fortitude  of  a  nation,  in  the  time  of 
danger,  mould,  especially,  be  excited  by  a  humble,  yet 
ftedfaft,  confidence  in  GOD.  This  was  the  primary 
fource  of  that  heroifm  which  the  pious  king  of  Ju- 
dah  exhibited,  in  the  midft  of  danger  ;  and  it  was 
from  this  topic  of  perfuafion,  that  he  endeavoured  to 
infpire  his  fubjects  with  fortitude,  to  encounter  the 
enemy  then  at  their  gates  :  There  be  more  with  us  than 
with  him  :  with  him  is  an  arm  offlejh  ;  but  with  us  is  the 
LORD  our  God?  to  help  us. 

Every  nation,  whether  its  caufe  be  juft  or  unjuft, 
is  apt  to  imagine  that  the  Divine  Being  is  on  its  fide. 

•        *  o  ^  o 

In  the  prefent  mltance,  there  was  no  prefumption  in 
believing  and  afferting  it.  In  addition  to  the  mani-» 
felt  cruelty  and  oppreilion  of  the  Affyrian  prince,  it 
appears  that  he  was  diftinguimed  for  his  impieties. 
How  impious  was  the  menage,  which  he  fent  by  an 
ambaflfador  to  the  king  of  Judah,  but  which  he  took 
care  to  have  delivered  in  an  APPEAL  TO  THE  PEOPLE  If 

Whereon 

*  What  aftonifhing  effedts  did  the  argument,  PRO  ARM  ET  FOCIS,  produce, 
even  among  Pagans  ! 

f   Hath  my  majler,  faid  the  ambaflador,y//if  me  to  tly  majler  and  to  tbct,  la  ffeak 
t\rfe  tvtrJt  ?  Hath  tit  rut  lent  me  re  THE   MEW  THAT  sir   »P»N  THE  WALL  ?  " 


Whereon  do  ye  truji,  tlmtye  abide  in  thejiege  in  yerufalem : 
Doth  not  Hezekiah  perfuade  you  to  give  over  yourf elves  to 
die  by  famine  and  by  thirft,  faying,  The  Lord  our  Godjhall 
deliver  us  out  of  tie  hand  of  the  kin*  of  Affyria?  Bath  not 
the  fame  Hezekiah  taken  away  his  high  places  $  and  his  al~ 
tars,  and  commanded  yudah  and.  yerufalem,  faying,  TCe 
fhall  worfhip  before  one  altar,  and  burn  incenje  upon  it  ? 
Know  ye  not  what  I  and  mv  fathers  have  done  unto  all  th- 
people  of  oihsr  lands  ?  Were  the  gods  of  the  nations  of  thojl* 
lands  any  ways  able  to  deliver  their  lands  cut  of  mine  hand? 
Who  •  was  there  among  all  the  gods  of  thofe  nations  that*  my 
fatliers  utterly  deftroyed,  that  could  deliver  his  people  out  of 
mine  hand.,  that  your  Godjhould  be  able  to  deliver  you  out 
of  mine  hand?  Now,  therefore,  let  not  Hezekiah  deceive 
you,  nor  perfuade  you  on  this  manner,  neither  yet  bdieve 
him  :  for  no  god  of  any  nation  or  kingdom  was  able  to  de- 
liver his  people  out  of  mine  hand,  and  out  of  the  hands-  cf 
my  fathers  :  how  much  left  foall  your  God  deliver  yow  out 
of  min^  hand?  Not  content  with  this  blafphenious 
rneffage,  the  Affyrian  king  wrote  letters  to  rail  on  the 
Lord  God  of  Jfrael. — Thefe  horrible  blafphemies  con- 
firmed the  jewiih  king  more  perfectly  in  his  piety, 
and  conftramcd  him  to  repair  to  God  for  protection 
againft  the  common  enemy  of  God  and  man.  FOK 
THIS  CAUSE  ilszekiah  the  king,  and  the  prophet  Jfdiab 
the  fon  of  Amoz,  prayed  and  cried  to  Heaven. 

While,  therefore,  this  religious  prince  witneffed 
the  (hocking  impiety  of  his  adverfary ;  while  he 
knew  himfelf  to  be  at  the  head  of  a  nation  profefling 
their  belief  in  the  true  and  living  God,  and  vifibly 
adhering  to  his  worfhip  ;  and  while  he  was  confcious 
of  making  God  his-  own  refuge  :  it  was  but  a  pious 
confidence  which  led  him  to  declare,  With  us  is  tic 
LORD  our  God  to  help  us. 

In  every  inilance  of  national  danger,  occafionedby 
unjuft  and  impious  enemies,  this  noble  example 
fhould  be  followed.  The  injured  and  threatened  na- 
tion mould  folemnly  fpread  their  complaints  before 
God,  and  devoutly  look  to  Him  for  protection  againfi 

the 


C    >7    3 

the  wrath  and  violence  of  man.  In  a  humble  reliance 
on  his  divine  aid,  they  ought  to  bejlrmig  and  couragc- 
ous^ — What  mould  intimidate  a  people,  whofe  caufe 
is  juft,  and  who  have  reafon  to  believe  that  GOD  is 
on  their  fide  ?  What  have  they  to  fear,  who  are  un- 
der the  guardianfliip  of  the  great,  the  mighty  God,  the 
Lord  ofhq/h — who  doth  according  to  his  'will  in  the  army 
of  heaven,  and  among  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth?  His 
power  no  ftrength  can  refift.  His  ichemes  no  ftrata- 
gems  can  deftroy.  He  difappointeth  the  devices  of  the 
crafty,  fo  that  their  hands  cannot  perform  their  enterprise. 
The  abilities  of  generals,  the  fkill  of  ambaffadors,  the 
prowefs  of  armies,  the  refources  of  empires,  are  count- 
ed  as  nothing  by  HIM, who  onlyjpeaketb,  and  it  is  done, 
— whofe  counfd  will  ftand,  and  who  will  do  all  his 
pleafure. 

While  a  reliance  on  the  almighty  power  of  God 
ihould  infpire  a  nation  with  religious  fortitude,  that 
fortitude  mould  be  heightened  by  the  coniideration, 
that,  in  the  ordinary  courfe  of  his  providence,  he  in- 
terpofeth  to  humble  the  pride  of  the  oppreffor,  and 
to  fave  the  affliRed  people.  In  many  inftances,  it  is 
true,  he  maketh  ufe  of  earthly  tyrants  for  the  cor- 
rection .of  his  chofen  people  j  but,  generally,  in  the 
jjfi>e,  he  punimeth,  or  deftroyeth,  thofe  very  tyrants. 
The  Affyrian  was,  for  a  while,  the  rod  of  his  anger, 
and  theftaff  of  his  indignation  :  but  as  he  meant  not  to 
fulfil  the  divine  purpoies,  but  to  gratify  his  own 
pride  and  ambition,  he  was  punimed  for  his  iniquity, 
and  levelled  with  the  duft,*  Where  the  honour  of 

God's 

*  For  the  full  illuftration  of  this  very  important  fa&,  fee  the  loth  chapter 
of  Ifaiah.  Who  is  not  amazed  to  find  fei:fible  men,  and  pfofeffihg  ChrifHans, 
in  contempt  of  this  truth,  confounding  tie  means  with  /Zv  end,  and  juftifying 

the  one  if  conducive  to  the  other  ? It  appears  to  be  the  divine  purpofe  to 

abolifh  the  Papacy,  for  which  Proteftants  have  long  and  fincerely  prayed. 
The  Prdpkides  lead  us  to  believe  that  the  period  of  its  abolition  is  faft  ap- 
proaching. THEREFORE,  fay  thefe  iage  reafoners,  the  caufe  of  the  Great' 
Republic  is  juft  ;  for  it  is  only  accompl'ijhing  the  divine  prediction,  and  ful- 
flling  the  divine  decree.  To  be  confiftent,  they  mud  juftuy  the  proud  and 
tyrannic  Affyrian,  who,  in  like  manner,  accomplifheJ  the  divine  prediction, 
?nd  fulfilled  the  divine  decree,  in  chaftHing  the  Jews.  How  did -F,iul  treat 
the  imputation  of  maintaining  fuch  a  falfe  and  definitive  principle  ? — We  be 
Jlanderoujly  reported,— ft,me  affirm  that  iff  foy>  LET  WS  BO  EVJl  T«AT 
MAY  CO>«I,  -wtofe  damnation  isjuji. 


God's  name,  of  his  worlhip,  and  laws,  is  involved 
with  the  caufe  of  an  opprelfed  people  j  there  is  al- 
ways reafon  to  hope  for  the  divine  interpofition. 
What  was  the  iffue  of  the  conteft  between  the  pious 
Hezckiah,  and  the  blafphemous  Sennacherib  ?  The 
Lord  fcnt  an  angel,  which  cut  off  all  the  mighty  men  of 
1-alour,  and  the  leaders  and  captains  in  the  camp  of  the 
king  pf  Aflyfia  :  So  he  r darned  with  Jhame  of  face  to  his 
own  land.  And,  to  clofe  the  fccne,  when  he  was  conic 
into  the  hwfe  of  his  god,  they  that  came  forth  of  his  own 
bowdsjlew  him  there  with  his  fword.  This  is  but  one 
inftance,  among  innumerable  others,  recorded  in  fa- 
cred  and  profane  hiftory,  of  the  interpofition  of 
Heaven  for  the  vindication  of  injured  innocence,  and 
for  the  humiliation  and  deftruction  of  the  tyrants 
and  oppreftors  of  the  earth.  The  divine  Arbiter, 
who  judgeth  among  the  nations,  will  not  fuffer  the 
rod  of  the  wicked  to  reft  on  the  lot  of  the  righteous. — • 
In  every  criiis  of  danger,  therefore,  it  is  the  duty  of 
a  nation  to  repair  to  God  for  protection.  'The  name 
of  the  LORD  is  ajirong  tower  :  the  righteous  runneth  in- 
to it,  and  is  fafe.  Thus  protected,  a  people  ought  to 
bejirong  and  courageous,  and  not  to  fear  what  man  Jball 
do  to  them. 

In  reviewing  our  Difcourfe,  we  are  taught, 
iv    That  the  Government  of  our  own  country 
has  done  an  important  act  of  duty,  in  preparing  the 
means  of  our  national  defence. 

The  PROCLAMATION  of  our  dignified  and  beloved 
PRESIDENT,  by  which  we  are,  this  day,  aflembled, 
allures  us — and  who  can,  for  a  moment,  doubt  the 
fact  ? — that  "  the  moft  precious  interefts  of  the  peo- 
ple of  the  United  States  are  full  held  in  jeopardy,  by 
the  hoftile  deiigns  and  inlklious  arts  of  a  foreign  na- 
tion." To  bame  thele  arts,  and  to  oppofe  theie  de- 
iigns, has  been  the  object  of:  our  national  govern- 
ment ;  and  it  was  a  duty  which  it  owed  to  its  con- 
ftituents,  to  the  united  interefts  of  Religion  and  of 
Liberty,  to  future  generations,  and  to  the  God  of 

our 


[     '9    ] 

our  fathers.     Foremoft,  in  this  noble  cnterprize,  has 
ftood  the  patriotic  and  illuftrious  ADAMS  ;  who, 
placed  by  the  fuffrages  of  his  fellow-citizens  at  the 
head  of  our  CONFEDERATED  REPUBLIC,  has,  with 
unremitted  vigilance,  enlightened  zeal,  and  im move- 
able  firmnefs,  exerted  all  his  energies  in  its  defence. 
That  imminent  danger,  which  many  of  the  Ameri- 
can people  were  unable,  and  which  not  a  few  were 
unwilling,  to  fee,  he  took  care  early  to  point  out. 
To  the  cloud  fraught  with  lightning,  and  ready  to 
burft  on  our  flumbering  country,  he  directed  the 
eyes  of  every  citizen.     Roufed  by  his  warning  voice, 
alarmed  by  his  caution,  infpired  by  his  example,  and 
guided  by  his  counfel,  the  nation,  at  length,  awoke 
from  its  {lumbers,  and  beheld  its  danger.     Impoffi- 
ble  as  it  was  to  eftimate  the  extent  of  the  defigns  of 
a  foreign  government  which,  with  the  fair  profef- 
fions  of  friendmip,  was  conftantly  committing  acts 
of  hoftility  ;  the  Preiident  wifely  counfelled  our  na- 
tion to  fortify  its  fea-ports,  to  organize  its  militia, 
and  to  raife  a  provifional  army.    Expofed  as  was  our 
Commerce  to  the  perpetual  depredations,  and  liable 
as  were  our  feamen  to  the  perpetual  injuries  and  in- 
fults,  of  the  commiflioned  fpoliators  of  the  Terrible 
Republic  ;  he  counfelled  the  armament  of  our  mer- 
chant vefiels,  and  the  eitablimment  of  a  Navy.     To 
his  counfels  the  National  Legiflature  has  been  atten- 
tive ;  and  his  advices  have  become  its  Afts. 

Who  does  not  perceive  a  happy  refemblance  be- 
tween the  conduct  of  the  JEWISH  KING,  and  of  the 
AMERICAN  PRESIDENT  ?  Who  will  applaud  the  pi- 
ety and  patriotifm  of  the  one,  and  not  bluih  to  with- 
hold his  applaufe  from  the  like  piety  and  patriotifm 
of  the  other  ?  If  the  one  conducted  as  became  the 
Father  and  Protector  of  the  people,  in  repairing  the 
broken  wall  of  Jeruialem,  erecting  towers,  and  mak- 
ing darts  and  ihields  in  abundance  :  the  other  has 
conducted  no  lefs  worthily,  in  fortifying  our  ports, 
arming  our  veilels,  organizing  our  militia,  railing 

an 


an  army,  and  providing  the  nation  with  the  means 
of  its  defence.*  Any  recent  overtures  from  the 
Hoftile  Power,  whether  infidious  or  lincere,  render 
thefe  meafures,  in  no  degree,  fuperfluous  :  for,  it  has 

been 

*  The  falutary  effects  of  our  armaments  for  defence,  viewed  in  the  light  of 
tconomy,  in  particular,  as  well  as  of  found  policy,  in  general,  appear  in  the  fol- 
lowing extracts  from  Mr.  HARPER'S  Letter  to  his  CONSTITUENTS,  datei 
PbilailJpbia,  Feb.  IO,  1/99  :  — 

"  The  naval  armament  fet  on  foot,  purfuant  to  the  acts  paffed  previous  to 
the  prefent  feflion,  confided  of  fix  frigates,  of  44  guns  each,  two  of  36  guns, 
and  one  of  31;  eighteen  floops  of  war,  of  from  18  to  24  guns  each  ;  four 
galleys  ;  and  eight  cutters, of  from  8  to  14  guns  each;  in  all  39  veffels  of  wai. 
Of  this  number  have  been  completed,  and  are  now  at  fea,  two  frigates  of  44 
guns,  and  one  of  36 ;  three  floops  of  18,  three  of  20,  and  three  of  24  guru 
each  ;  eight  revenue  cutters,  and  three  galleys.  The  reft  are  on  the  ftocks  ; 
and  it  is  fuppoled  that  the  whole  number  will  be  at  fea  by  the  middle  of  this 
year.  It  is  found  from  experience,  that  failors  are  plenty,  and  readily  en- 
gaged. 

"  By  returns  up  to  the  loth  of  laft  month  it  appears,  that  fince  private  fliip* 
were  permitted  to  arm,  which  is  about  feven  or  eight  months  ago,  463  armed 
merchant  fhips  had  then  failed  from  five  ports  only  ;  viz.  Baltimore,  Pbllade'- 
ffjia,  New-York,  Ho/ion  and  Salem.  Making  a  proportional  allowance  for  other 
ports,  and  for  the  veffels  armed  fince  the  date  of  the  returns,  we  may  fafely 
compute  the  whole  number  at  350,  with  7  or  8  guns  each  on  an  average  ; 
which  makes  the  whole  number  of  guns  amount  to  2615.  This,  of  itfelf,  is 
a  very  formidable  and  efficacious  force,  for  the  defence  of  trade. 

"  The  happieft  effect  has  already  been  experienced  from  thefe  public  and 
private  exertions.  The  privateers  have  wholly  difappeared  from  our  coafts. 
Their  number  has  greatly  decreafed  in  the  Weft-Indies.  Captures  are  com- 
paratively few.  And  the  price  of  infurance  on  veffels  and  cargoes  has  fallen 
one  half.  The  faving  of  infurance  alone  is  at  the  rate  of  nine  millions  of  dol- 
lars annually  :  which  is  more  than  twice  as  much  as  the  whole  maritime 
preparations  have  coft.  Such  have  been  the  effects  of  the  meafures  adopted 
for  the  protection  of  commerce  and  the  defence  of  the  country. 

"  Encouraged  by  thefe  happy  confequences,  and  convinced  that  a  navy  is  the 
beft,  the  cheapeft,  and  the  mqft  efficacious  defence  for  this  country,  Congreis, 
during  the  prefent  feffion,  have  paffed  an  act  for  building,  in  addition  to  OUT 
prefent  maritime  force,  fix  fhips  of  the  line,  to  carry  not  lefs  than  74  guns 
each,  and  fix  floops  of  war,  of  not  lefs  than  18  guns  each.  They  are  all  10 
be  prepared  and  fent  to  fea  as  foon  as  pofiible, 

"  Provifion  has  alfo  been  made  for  eftahlifhing  fuitable  dock  yards  for  the 
navy  ;  and  two  hundred  thoufand  dollars  have  been  appropriated  for  the  pur- 
chafe  of  fhip  timber,  and  of  land  containing  it. 

"  Progreis  is  making  in  raifing  the  army  which  was  voted  at  laft  feflicv:  ; 
but  care  is  taken  at  the  fame  time,  to  avoid  expenfe,  by  forbearing  to  bring  it 
into  the  field  fooner  than  it  may  be  wanted. 

"  Our  meafures  have  not  only  had  a  very  happy  effect  in  protecting  and 
reviving  our  trade  ;  but  have  alfo  produced  a  change  in  the  conduct  of 
franc:  ;  not  ft  change  in  her  meafures,  or  her  fyftem  ;  for  her  decrees  agaiuft 
our  commerce  are -all  continued  in  force,  and  her  privateers  ftill  take  as  many 
of  our  veffels  as  they  can  catch  ;  but  in  her  behaviour,  which,  inftead  of  being 
jnfolent  and  overbearing  as  heretofore,  has  become  complaifant  and  moderate. 
It  WBS  evidently  her  defign,  from  the  propofitions  which  flic  made,  to  fpin 

eat 


[       21       ] 

been  {hewn,  that  Negotiation  muft  derive  its  efficacy 
from  our  defenlive  preparations,  and  heroic  attitude. 
In  taking  thefe  active  and  vigorous  meafures,  there- 
fore, our  Chief  Magiftrate  has  done  no  more  than 
his  duty.  The  great  law  of  fclf-prefervation  required 
him  to  take  them  : — by  neglecting  them,  he  would 
have  not  duly  regarded  the  grand  defign  of  hh  of- 
fice, which  is  that  of  protecting  the  people — and  he 
would  have  invited  the  aggreflions  of  our  enemy. 

Our  Difcourfe  farther  teaches, 

2.  That  it  is  the  duty  of  the  American  citizens 
to  contribute  what  in  them  lies,  towards  the  fupport 
of  thofe  meafures  of  defence,  recommended  by  the 
Executive,  and  adopted  by  the  Legiflature,  of  the 
Nation.  In  any  great  crilis  of  national  danger,  there 
is  one  common  intereft  to  maintain.  The  liberties 
and  lives,  the  intereft  and  happinefs,  of  thofe  who 
govern,  and  of  thofe  who  are  governed,  are  unitedly 
concerned  in  the  event.  This  is  efpecially  the  cafe  in 
an  elective  and  reprefentative  government,  lika  ours, 
where  the  legiflators  are  chofen  by  the  people.  This 
union  of  intereji  furnifhes  a  folid  reafon  to  the  com- 
munity at  large,  to  confide  in  their  rulers,  and  to 

fupport  their  meafures  for  the  common  defence. 

Nor  ihould  it  be  forgotten,  that  whatever  meafures 
are  adopted  by  thefe  conftituted  authorities,  accord- 
ing 

out  to  an  endlefs  length,  while  fhe  might  leep  us  unarmed,  and  proceed,  in  the 
mean  time,  to  deftroy  our  commerce  and  our  refources,  and  to  raife  up  a  party 
among  us  againft  the  government.  Being  defeated  in  this  fcheme,  by  the  re- 
cal  of  Mr.  GERRY,  fhe  has  lately  fignified,  through  our  Miniflcr  in  Holland, 
that  fhe  is  ready  to  receive  a  Minifter  from  us,  in  a  proper  manner,  and  to 
renew  the  negociation  on  the  terms  which  our  Commiflioners  offered  in  vain. 
It  is  the  Prefidcnt's  intention  to  meet  this  advance,  and  to  omit  no  opportu- 
nity that  may  offer  of  fettling  the  difpute  vnfaft  and  honourable  terms  •  But 
Congrefs,  taking  warning  from  the  perfidious  conduct  of  France  towards  other 
countries,  has  refolved  not  to  be  the  dupe  of  her  artifices  on  this  occafion,  nor 
to  relax,  in  any  degree,  from  its  meafures  of  defence,  till  juflice  is  done  for  the 
paft,  and  a  fair  profpecl:  afforded  of  fccurity  for  the  future.  Whilft  we  perfift 
in  this  wife  policy  of  keeping  the  fword  unlheathed  in  one  hand,  and  prefent- 
ing  the  olive-1»ranch  with  the  other,  we  fhall  be  in  no  danger.  If  we  depart 
from  it,  and  fuffer  oiirfelves  to  be  lulled  into  fecurity  by  any  appearance  of  a 
conciliatory  fpirit  which  France  may  hold  out,  we  fhall  (hare  the  fate  of  many- 
nations,  whom  (he  has  deftroycd,  more  by  her  deceitful  artificer,  than  by  tkc 
force  of  her  arms." 


[       22      ]. 

ing  to  the  Conftitution  of  the  Union,  are  virtually 
the  meafu.res  of  the  people  themfelves.  Let  there  b; 
therefore  ever  fo  great  a  diverfity  of  opinion  in,  th* 
Legiflature  itfelf,  or  among  the  body  of  the  nation,  rt- 
fpecling  the  expediency  o£  thefe  meafures  ;  when  they 
are  once  enacted  by  a  conftitutional  majority  of  ths 
Legiflature,  receive  the  fignature  of  the  Supreme  Ex- 
ecutive, and  become  the  Laws  of  the  land  ;  it  is.incuir.-. 
bent  on  the  citizens  to  fupport  them.  When  fuch  fup- 
port  is  refufed,  there  is  an  end  of  all  free  and  regu- 
lar government.  An  appeal  is  inftantly  made  to  ths 
ilrength  of  parties  ;  and  the  reign  of  tyranny,  or  the 
more  terrible  reign  of  anarchy,  enfues. — Whether, 
therefore,  regard  be  had  to  the  common  interefts 
which  fubfift  between  the  Legiflature  and  the  citi- 

O 

zens,  to  that  Conftitution  which  is  the  grand  palla- 
dium of  our  liberty,  or  to  the  prefent  and  immedi- 
ate fafety  of  the  nation  ;  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Amer- 
ican citizens  to  contribute  all  in  their  power  towards 
the  fupport  of  thofe  meafures  which  the  govern-* 
ment,  has  adopted  for  the  national  defence. 

But  this  duty  flows  in  a  more  direct  inference 
from  the  principles  maintained  in  our  Difcourfe  :  For 
if  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Chief  Magiftrate  of  a  nation, 
in  time  of  danger,  to  be  active  and  vigorous  in  pre- 
paring the  means  of  defence,  as,  we  truft,  has  been 
clearly  proved  ; .  certainly  it  rnuft  be  the  duty  of  tne 
'•people  to  exert  their  activity  and  vigour  to  promote 
the  fame  defign.  But  as  they  have  no  right  to  make 
fuch  exertions  in  any  other  form,  than  what  is  point- 
ed out  by  the  Conftitution  and  Laws  of  the  nation  5, 
fo  an  attempt  to  make  them  in  any  other  form 
would  be  worfe  than  futile,  it  would  be  pernicious 
It  would  tend  to  deftroy  the  Conftitution,  to  prof, 
trate  the  government,  and,  at  once,  to  generate  iiu 
teftine  divilion,  and  to  invite  foreign  invafion.. 

How  great,  then,  muft  be  the  criminality  of  thofe 
citizens,  if  they  may  be  called  by  that  name,  who, 
inftead  of  cheerfully  contributing  to  promote,  have 

done 


n  23  ] 

done  all  in  their  power  to  obftrucr,,  the  meafures 
\vhich  our  government  has  adopted  for  the  defence  o£ 
the  nation  !  What,  my  brethren,  would  have  been 
your  judgment,  had  any  of  the  princes  of  Judah,or 
any  of  the  citizens  of  Jerufalem,  opened  the  foun- 
tains, which  the  king  had  taken  the  precaution  to 
ftop  ;  broken  down  the  wall,  which  he  had  carefully 
built  up  ;  demolifhed  the  towers,  which  he  had  creel- 
ed ;  and  deftroyed  the  darts  and  fhields,  which  he 
had  provided  for  the  defence  of  the  threatened  capi- 
tal ?  Who  is  there  in  this  AfTembly, — I  except  no 
man, — what  individual  is  there  here  prefent,  who 
would  not  inftantly  pronounce  THEM  worthy  of  death 
cr  of  bonds  ?  Who  is  there,  who  would  not  judge 
it  an  equitable  treatment,  if  fuch  vile  traitors — for 
I  will  give  them  no  harder  name — had  been  thrown 

over  the  walls  of  Jerufalem  ? And  yet  there  are 

thofe  within  our-  walls,  there  are  thofe  in  our  towns 
and  villages,  who  are  guilty  of  this  very  treachery* 
Not  one  fmgle  Meafure  of  defence  has  been  propof- 
ed,  fince  our  rights  were  invaded,  but  xvhat  they 
have  reprobated.  No  one  Act  has  been  pafled,  for 
the  national  fecurity,  but  what  they  have  fought  to 
render  odious  in  the  eyes  of  the  people.  Not  one 
Patriot,  without  even  the  exception  of  a  WASH- 
INGTON and  an  ADAMS,  has  diftinguiflied  him- 
felf  in  the  glorious  caufe  of  vindicating  the  rights, 
and  prefcrving  the  honour,  of  our  country,  but 
whom  they  have  loaded  with  calumny.*  Nay  more — 
they  have  been  the  zealous  Apologi/ls  of  our  enemies. 
No  decree  have  they  pafled,  but  what  has  received 
their  fanclion  ;  no  arrete  have  they  iffued,  but  what 
they  have  defended ;  no  fpoliations  have  they  com- 
mitted, but  what  they  have  juftified. 

Ye 

»  The  fpurioas  patriots  of  AMERICA  hare  treated  Prefidcnt  ADAMS,  ex- 
ictly  as  thofe  of  SWITZERLAND  treated  that  real  and  iliuftrious  patriot,  M. 
They  reprefcnted  that  Magittrate  as  the  inftigator  of  war, 
Who,  on  the  contrary,  was  anxious  to  prevent  the  neccffity  for  it,  by  a  con- 
that   would  have   put  Switzerland  into  a  ftatc  not  to  fear  its  confe- 
£"'T    rr***  rLe  Hift°ry   °f  tbe  Dtf'*ai<m  «f  tit  Helvttie  Union    and  Lik- 
-rty,br  J.  MALLET  Du  PAN,— a  Hiftory  at  once  highly  inftruAivc  and  mon- 
rt        to  AMERICAN, —lately  republifhed,  by  Mr.  Nmtrak,  at  Bofton. 


Ye  manes  of  WARREN,  WOOSTER,  and  MONTGOM- 
ERY !  if  ye  ftill  hover  over  the  turf  which  covers  your 
relics,  with  what  indignant  horror  and  contempt 
muft  ye  behold  thofe  parricidal  confpirators,  who  are 
thus  betraying  thofe  precious  liberties,  for  which  ye 
fought,  and  bled,  and  died  ! — Men  and  brethren  ! 
Allow  me  to  hope  better  things  of  you,  and  things  which 
accompany  our  national  falvation,  though  Ithusfpeak. 

Finally  :  What  fpecial  reafons  have  we  for  refolu- 
tion  and  fortitude  ? — Our  Government  has  been, 
and  ftill  is,  making  vigorous  preparations  for  de- 
fence. An  army  is  in  forwardnefs,  at  the  head  of 
which  is  the  great  WASHINGTON,  who  hath, 
more  than  once,  triumphed  over  the  fkill  and  brave- 
ry of  the  armies  of  Europe,  and  whofe  name  alone  is 
a  hoft.  A  naval  armament  is  daily  accumulating 
ftrength ;  and  has  already  become  formidable.  A 
patriotic  fpirit  hath  pervaded  the  people  ;  who,  not- 
withftanding  partial  diffenfions,  are  becoming  more 
and  more  united  in  defence  of  the  government  and 
laws  of  their  country.*  Ought  not  thefe  aufpicious 
omens  to  infpire  us  with  fortitude,  and  to  fave  us 
from  defpondency  ? 

Nor 

*  The  recent  and  very  affecting  cataftrophe  of  SWITZERLAND,— whofe  tran- 
quil happinefs  has,  for  centuries,  been  the  poet's  theme,  and  whofe  liberty 
has  been  the  legiflator's  and  the  patriot's  praiie, — muft  be  afcribed  to  divided 
councils,  and  a  negled  of  the  means  of  defence.  "  If  very  ftrong  and  infur- 
mountable  motives  juftified  the  adoption  of  the  neutrality  in  1792,  *hing 
can  excufe  the  lethargic  fecurity  into  which  it  plunged  the  Canton?,  th  ir  un- 
conquerable indifference  in  the  midft  of  a  perpetual  flu&uat:-  n  of  critical 
circumftances,  and  the  total  negleSt  of  providing  againjl  the  ctnfequentcs  that  migtt 
attend  an  unarmed  neutrality." Du  PAN. 

Two  fatal-  opinions  confpired  to  render  the  Councils  of  Switzerland  ne- 
glectful of  the  means  of  its  defence,  and  to  precipitate  its  deftruclion.  "  The 
firft,  which  was  built  upon  the  infuperable  hope  of  preventing  a  rapture,  op- 
pofed  energetic  meafures  as  fo  many  obftacles  to  that  defirable  object,  con- 
tinued to  confide  in  pleadings  and  negotiations,  and,  in  order  to  preferve 

peace,  advifed  the  fubmittingto  all  previous  wrongs."  Ib. What  American 

citizen,  contemplating  the  deftrudion  of  Switzerland,  in  connexion  with  the 
caufes  which  produced  it,  will  not  addrefs  his  own  Government,  at  this  crifis, 
as  the  ancient  orator  addrefled  the  Senate  of  Rome  ?  "  Quapropter  de  lum- 
ma  falute  veftra,  populique  Romani,  .Patres  Confcripti,  de  veflrjs  conjugibua 
He  liberis,  de  aris  ac  focis,  de  fanis  ac  templis,  de  totius  urbis  Uctis  ac  fedibus, 
de  imperio,  de  libertate,  de  falute  Italise,  deque  univerfa  Republic^  decermtc 
diligeater,  ut  ioftituifti*.  ac  fortiter,"  CXCERQ,  Orat.  iv,  in  CataJiu. 


C    *5    ] 

Nor  let  us  overlook  the  juftice  of  our  caufe. 
What  have  we  done, — that  a  neutral  and  indepen- 
dent Nation  had  not  a  right  to  do, — to  dcferve  thofe 
hoftile  aggreffions  which  we  have  deeply  felt  for  fev- 
eral  fucceilive  years  ?  No  Government  could  have 
begun  more  feafonably,  or  have  aimed  more  iincere- 
Jy,  than  our  own,  to  preferve  its  neutrality,  and 
to  be  at  peace  with  all  the  world.*  Were  it  fuppo- 

fable, 

*  See  Proficient  WASHINGTON'S  Proclamation  of  Neutrality,  dated  April  Z2, 
*793-  which  was,  afterward,  fandioned  by  an  A<51  of  the  National  Legiflaturc. 

In  proof  of  the  uniform  iincerity  of  our  Government,  in  its  pacific  and  con- 
ciliatory profeffions  towards  France,  we  might  appeal  to  The  Britijb  Treaty,  that 
fandi,ra  s  Box,  as  many  would  have  it,  of  all  the  evils  we  have  fuffered  from 
the  Great  Republic  :  "  Nothing  in  this  Treaty  contained  lhall  be  conflrued 
or  operate  contrary  to  former  and  exifting  public  Treaties  with  other  Sover- 
eigns or  States."  Art.  xxv.  We  might  appeal  to  the  INSTRUCTIONS  of 
Frefidcnt  ADAMS  to  the  Envoys  Extraordinary  to  the  French  Republic: 
"  However  exceptionable  in  the  view  of  our  own  Government  and  in  the 
eye*  of  an  impartial  world  may  have  been  the  condud  of  France,  yetfhe  may 
be  unwilling  to  acknowledge  any  aggreffions,  and  we  do  not  wilh  to  wound 
her  feelings,  or  to  excite  her  refentment.  It  will  therefore  be  beft  to  adopt 
on  this  point  the  principle  of  the  Britifh  Treaty,  and  tirrain.it:  our  differences 
infuch  manner,  as,  -without  referring  to  the  merits  of  our  r effective  complaints  and 
f  retentions,  may  be  the  bejl  calculated  to  produce  mutual  fatisfafiion,  and  good  under- 
Jlanding"  •  "  The  great  objed  of  the  Government  being  to  do  juftice  to 
f  'ranee  and  her  citizens,  if  in  any  thing  we  have  injured  them  ;  to  obtain 
juftice  for  the  multiplied  injuries  they  have  committed  againft  us  ;  and  to 
preferve  peace  ;  your  ftyle  and  manner  of  proceeding  will  be  fuch  as  lhall 
moft  dircdly  tend  to  fecurc  thefe  objeds." 

In  proof  that  our  Government  has  been  compelled  to  every  fingle  Ad  which 
it  has  pafled,  of  a  hoftile  afped,  we  might  appeal  to  the  fame  primary  author-, 
ity  :  "  The  condud  of  France  towards  the  United  States  is  capable  of  no 
juftification,  extenuation  or  apology,  that  1  can  imagine,  and  not  only  render- 
ed neceffary  all  the  meafures  of  defence,  which  have  been  adopted,  but  would 
have  juftified  more  open  and  declared  hofUlities.  Every  war,  however,  that 
might  lie  jtjft,  may  not  always  be  neceffary.  WE  HAVE  HITHERTO  PRO- 
CEED i  NO  Fl'lTHER,  THAN  WE  HAVE  BEEN  COMPELLKD  BY  INDISPENSA- 
BLE NEcts^n  /,  and  if  the  condud  of  France  fhould  render  a  further  profe- 
cution  of  hoftilities  unnecc.Tary,  they  will  not  be  further  profecuted.  At 
p'vfent,  however,  we  oujjht  not  to  unftring  a  bow,  or  relax  a  fibre." 

Tie  PRESIDENT*  Anfiver  to  an  Addrefs  of  the  Legijlature 
of  Nciu-Jerfiy,  Feb.  26,    1799. 

See,  tlfoy  tbt  luminous  REPORT  of  tbe  Se:retary  of  State,  on  the  Tranfafiians  re- 
lating to  tie  UniteJStates  and  France,  Jan.  l8,  1799. 

The  hoftile  treatment  of  France,  in  her  fpoliations  on  the  American  com- 
merce, has  been  acknowledged,  and  reprobated,  by  one  of  her  own  Legifla- 
tor?  Honeft  and  venerable  PASTORET  !  who  daredft  to  fpeak  the  truth  be- 
fore the  Council  of  Five  Hundred,  at  the  rifque  of  liberty  and  life  !  Enviable 
were  that  exile,  which  was  the  price  of  thy  integrity,  in  comparifon  with  the 
kigheft  place  in  a  corrupt  and  rapacious  Government. 

"  When  vice  prevails,  and  impious  men  bear  fway, 
The  yoft  of  honour  is  a  private  ftation." 

D 


C    26   ] 

fable,  that,  in  any  inftance,  it  had  committed  an  er- 
ror, what  more  could  have  been  done  towards  its 
correction,  than  what  the  Government  has  done  ? 
While  it  complained  of  injury,  it  profeffed  an  impar- 
tial regard  to  juftice,  and  a  readinefs  to  adjuft  our 
differences  in  an  amicable  negociation.  In  proof  of 
the  fmcerity  of  its  profellion,  it  fent  an  Envoy- 
Extraordinary*  to  France,  for  the  exprefs  purpofe  of 
feeking  temperately  a  redrefs  of  injuries,  and  of  ter- 
minating all  difputes  by  mutual  compact.  What  was 
the  refult  ?  Our  ambailador,  inftead  of  being  receiv- 
ed as  the  reprefentative  of  an  Independent  Nation, 
was  hardly  allowed  a  temporary  refidence  in  Paris, 
?.nd,  at  length,  was  conftrained  to  feek  an  afylum  in 
Holland.  What  was  the  refult  of  a  fecond  embaffy  ? 
Three  refpectable  Ambafladors,t  without  being  re- 
ceived, or  accredited,  in  their  official  capacity,  re- 
mained fix  months  in  Paris,  as  political  cyphers,  mere- 
ly to  be  the  fport,  and,  but  for  their  wifdom  and 
firinnefs,  the  prey,  of  a  corrupt  and  intriguing  min- 

ifter. 1  will  neither  tire  nor  difguft  you,  with  a 

repetition  of  the  fliamelefs  propofitions  of  a  douceur 
for  the  iingular  privilege  of  an  Introduction  to  die 
Executive  Directory,  and  of  a  loan  to  be  raifed  by  a 
difadvantageous  purchafe  of  die  depreciated  refcrip- 
tions  of  Holland. It  became  evident,  that  an  ac- 
commodation was  not  to  be  purchafed  but  by  a  trib- 
ute ;  and  that  a  Negociation,  were  it  practicable,  in- 
Head  of  indemnifying  pail,  would  only  generate  fu- 
ture, injuries.  Our  Ambaffadors  have  returned  : 
and  the  nations  of  the  earth  have  witneiTed,  Heaven 
itfelf  has  witneiTed,  the  wrongs  and  the  indignities 
we  have  fufFered.  Confcious,  then,  of  the  jultice  of 
our  caufe,  let  us  appeal  to  Heaven,  and  be  Jlrong  and 
courageous. 

And  let  our  refolution  be,  above  all,  excited  by  % 
humble  yet  ftedfaft  reliance  on  ALMIGHTY  GOD.    In 

vain, 

*  The  Hon.  CHARLES  C.  PINCKNEV. 

•}•  The  Hon.  ELBRIDGK  GERX.V,  uyu  General  MARSHALL,  io  conjunction 
witli  the  former  Envoy. 


C   '»7     ] 

vain,  my  brethren,  are  all  our  united  efforts  exert- 
ed for  our  protection,  without  the  agency  of  the 
Moil  High.  Except  the  LORD  build  the  houfe,  they  la- 
bour in  vain  that  build  it :  except  the  LORD  keep  the  dry, 
tbc  watchman  waketh  but  in  vain.  But  if  we  will  re- 
ligioufly  commit  our  caufe  to  HIM,  and  confide  m 
his  protecting  care,  we  mail  have  no  reafon  to  dii- 
truft  his  divine  guardianfhip.  And  if  God  be  for  us, 
who  can  be  again/I  us  ? 

Here,  t?  ,m,  it  becomes  us  to  make  a  folemn 
paufe,  and  to  confider  the  neceffity  of  National  Relig- 
ion, for  the  ini'urance  of  National  Salvation.  Without 
the  love,  arid  fear,  and  fervice  of  God,  we  have  no 
ground  to  rely  on  his  divine  interpoiltion.  With- 
out religion,  an  appeal  to  him  is  arrogance ;  confi- 
dence in  him,  prefumption  ;  and  prayer  to  him,  im- 
piety. What  though  our  caufe  is  juil  ? — -If  we  are 
a  backfliding  and  rebellious  people,  it  will  be  jitji  in 
God  to  punifli  us.  And  how  conformable  will  it  be 
to  the  ordinary  method  of  the  divine  government, 
ihould  an  impious  oppreffor  be  made  initrumental  in 
the  punifhment  of  our  nation,  in  cafe  of  its  apoftacy 
and  rebellion  ?  The  king  of  Affyria  was  a  rod  in 
God's  hand  for  the  correction  of  his  covenant  peo- 
ple. What  the  Affyrian  was  to  them,  the  Terrible 
Republic  may  be  to  us.  While,  then,  we  rejoice  in 
the  contemplation  of  our  refources,  and  in  the  jui- 
tice  of  our  caufe,  we  ought  to  rejoice  with  trembling. 
The  great  condition  of  our  fecurity  is  nothing  lets 
than  national  religion  :  The  LORD-  is  with  you  while  ye 
be  with  him  ;  and  if  ye  feck  him,  he  will  be  found  of  you  ; 
but  ifyeforfake  him,  he  will  forfake  you. 

Have  we  no  reafon  to  fear  that  we  kave  forfaken 
him  ?  Have  we  not  reafon,  at  leaft,  to  believe  that 
we  have,  as  a  nation,  greatly  degenerated  from  the 
primitive  piety  of  our  anceftors  ?*  The  evidences 

of 

*  There  was,  here,  a  variation  in  the  Difecmrfe,  in  its  delivery  at  Bcft>nt 
to  this  purpofc  :  "  Are  not  the  evidences  of  this  degeneracy  to  be  found  in 
the  growing  and  impiovu  profanation  of  the  Lord's  day,  in  the  neglect,  or 

violation, 


[      28      ] 

of  this  degeneracy  were  largely  exhibited  to  your 
view  on  our  laft,  and  recent,  day  of  Humiliation.* 
To  thofe  melancholy  proofs  let  our  minds  now  recur, 
to  aid  our  feriouihefs  and  penitence,  on  the  prefent 
folemn  occafion. — And  let  us  be  deeply  affected  by 
the  confideration  of  what  our  PRESIDENT,  in  his 
Proclamation,  hath  allured  us,  that  "  the  moft  precious 
intereits  of  the  people  of  the  United  States  are  ftill 
held  in  jeopardy — by  the  diflemination  among  them 
of  thofe  principles  fubverfive  of  the  foundations  of 
all  religious,  moral  and  focial  obligations,  that  have 
produced  incalculable  mifchief  and  mifery  in  other 
countries/'— What  principles  are  thofe  ?  That  "  the 
Supreme  Being  is  no  other  than  nature  uncreated, 
and  uncreatable  ;  and  that  the  only  Providence  is  the 
affociation  of  mankind  in  freedom  and  equality: 
That  man,  when  free,  wants  no  other  Divinity  than 
himfelf :  That  Reafon  dethrones  both  the  kings  of 
the  earth,  and  the  Kings  of  heaven  :  That  no  mon- 
archy" mull  be  allowed  "above,  if  we  wifli  to  pre- 
ferve  our  Republic  below  :  That  every  other  Repub- 
lic, but  that  of  Atheifts,  is  a  chimera  :  and,  That,  if 
you  once  admit  the  exiftence  of  a  heavenly  Sover- 
eign, you  introduce  the  wooden  horfe  within  your 
walls."t  Are  principles,  like  thefe,  dhTeminated 

among 

violation,  of  the  duties  of  the  fancluary,  of  the  clofet,  and  of  the  family,  and 
in  the  increafe  of  profanenefs,  as  well  as  in  the  prevalence  of  injustice,  un- 
charitablenefs,  and  immorality,  in  its  various  forms  ?" 


To  thofe  who,  with  the  name  of  CHRISTIANS,  practically  difregard  the 
high  requirements  of  the  Gofpel  of  CHRIST,  "  A  Practical  View  of  the  pre- 
vailing Religious  Syilem  of  Profefling  Chriftians,  in  the  Higher  and  Middle 
Claties,  controlled  with  Real  Chriftianity,"  by  WILLIAM  WILBERFORCE, 

Efq.  isfsrioujly  recommended. A  cheap  edition  of  this  work  has  lately  been 

repubhflied,  by  Mr.  Ebenez.tr  Lariin,  at  Bofton. 

*  April  4. — Text,  for  both  fervices  of  the  day,  REVEL,  ii.  a,  3,  4,  J; 

f  Report  of  the  Committee  of  PDBLIC  INSTRUCTION,  printed  by  order 

of  the  National  Convention. Candour  obliges,  and  juftice  requires,  me  to 

reftrict  the  application  of  this  charge  of  Atheifm,  primarily  and  peculiarly, 
to  the  rulers  of  France.  It  does  not  appear  that  the  mafs  of  the  people  are 
difpofed  to  imbibe  a  fyftem  which  is  repugnant  to  the  firft  dictates  of  Rea- 
fon, and  to  the  order  and  happinefs  of  fociety.  They  feem  to  prefer  the  fu- 
,pcrftitions  of  Popery,  to  the  extravagancies  of  the  Atheiftical  philofophy. 

08 


C   *9   3 

among  us  ?  Greater,  unqueftionably,  muft  be  our 
danger  from  them,  than  from  all  the  fleets  and  ar- 
mies of  France.  If  we  admit  fuch  principles,  we 
fliall  deferve  all  thofe  "  incalculable"  calamities 
which  they  naturally  generate,  and  which  they 
have  actually  produced  in  various  countries  of  Eu- 
rope. We  mall  In:  abhorred  by  men,  and  aban- 
doned by  God  :  and  there  will  be  nothing  better 
to  expect,  than  that  this  rifing  empire,  which  has 
promifed  fair  to  become  an  empire  of  liberty,  of 
fcience,  of  Religion,  and  of  happinefs,  will  be  fwept 
'with  the  befom  of  deftruftion. 

Againft  the  danger  which  threatens  you  be  en- 
treated to  guard  :  from  the  precipice  where  ye  (land, 
be  exhorted  to  flee.  Let  us  guard,  with  facred  cau- 
tion, againft  the  admiflion  of  thofe  demoralizing  prin- 
ciples, which,  like  the  midnight  peftilence,  with 
iilence,but  with  certainty,bring  defolation  and  death. 
Let  us  "  call  to  mind  our  numerous  offences  againft 
the  Moft  High  GOD,  confefs  them  before  him  with 
the  fincereft  penitence,  implore  his  pardoning  mercy, 
through  the  great  Mediator  and  Redeemer,  for  our 
paft  tranfgreflions,  and  that,  through  the  grace  of 
his  Holy  Spirit,  we  may  be  difpofed  and  enabled  to 
yield  a  more  fuitable  obedience  to  his  righteous 
requifitions  in  time  to  come."  Let  us  fervently  pray-, 
"  That  he  would  interpofe  to  arreft  the  progrefs  of 

that 

On  the  occafion  of  Gregoire's  fpeech  in  favour  of  "  freedom  of  worflup,"  in 
1 795,  a  writer,  then  in  France,  remarked  :  "  There  are  few  who  do  not  wifh 
to  have  the  prefent  puerile  imitations  of  Paganifm  replaced  by  Chriftianity." 
"  The  people,  who  underftand  nothing  of  this  new  worfhlp,  languiih  af- 
ter the  faints  of  their  anceftors,  and  think  St.  Frangois  d'  Aflife,  or  St.  Fran- 
c,ois  de  Sales,  at  leaft  as  likely  to  afford  them  fpiritual  confolation,  as  Carmag- 
noles, political  homilies,  or  pafteboard  goddefles  of  liberty."— — Gregoire'» 
"  declaration  in  favour  of  free  worlhip  is  deemed  a  fort  of  triumph  to  the 
pious,  which  has  revived  their  hopes.  Nothing  is  talked  of  but  the  reftora- 
tion  of  churches,  and  reinftalment  of  priefts — the  {hops  are  already  open  on 
the  Decade,  and  the  decrees  of  the  Convention,  which  make  a  principal  part 
of  the  republican  fervice,  are  now  read  only  to  a  few  idle  children  or  bare 
walls."  Rtjidence  in  Frattff,  p.  445. 
If  I  rightly  recoiled,  a  member  of  the  National  Affcmbly,  the  laft  year, 
complained  that  the  fcvcntb  day  was  religioufly  obftrved,  by  the  people,  in- 
ftead  of  the  ttntb,  in  violation  and  contempt  of  the  National  decrees. 


C   3°   3 

that  impiety  and  licentioufnefs,  in  principle  and  prac- 
tice, fo  ofFenfive  to  himfelf,  and  fo  ruinous  to  man- 
kind :  That  he  would  make  us  deeply  fenfible  that 
righteoufnefs  cxalicth  a  natkn,  but  that  J6»  is  the  reproach 
of  any  people  :  That  he  would  turn  us  from  our  tranf- 
greilions.  and  turn  his  difpleafure  from  us."* — If  we 
,  become  a  iv farmed  and  a  holy  rcople,  we  fhall  ftill 
be  a  peculiar  i\  :±  V  to  the  Lord  our  God.  If  we  will  but 
hearken  to  Lis  a  '  'ients3  then  mall  our  peace  be  as  a 

rrjcr,  and  our  right  eoufncfs  as  the  waves  of  the  fea. 
Our  nauorial  fortitude  ihall  derive  new  energy  from 
the  coniiJeration,  that  God  is  for  us  ;  and  that,  while 
we  are  engaged  in  the  defence  of  our  own  unalienable 
rights,  we  are,  at  the  fame  time,  defending  the  hon* 
our  of  Gon,  and  the  divine  Religion  of  JESUS  CHRIST, 
againft  the  affaults  of  Infidelity  and  Atheifm.  Did 
the  blifphemy  of  the  impious  Affyrian  ferve  to 
ftrengthen  the  courage,  and  enliven  the  zeal,  of  the 
pious  Hezekiah,  and  of  the  Jewifti  nation  ?  What 
additional  force  will  be  given  to  our  pious  refolution, 
by  the  recollection  of  the  more  atrocious  blafphemy 
of  our  enemies  ?  The  one,  ignorantly  believing  in  a 
multitude  of  gods,  defied  the  power ,  only,  of  the  God 
of  the  Jews.  The  other,  with  all  the  advantages  of 
the  light  of  Philofophy  and  of  Revelation,  deny  the 
very  cxijlence  of  the  true  and  living  GOD,  and  feek 
to  exterminate  ALJU  RELIGION.  Oppofed  to  fuch 
adverfaries,  we  fhall  be  infpired  with  a  fpirit  of  facred 
patriotiim,afiured  that  God  will  plead  our  caufc  again/I 
an  ungodly  nation. 

Now,  therefore,  my  brethren,  let  us  unite  in  the 
iincere  and  penitent  confeflion  of  our  fms  ;  in  folemn 
reiblutions,  in  the  aid  of  divine  grace,  to  forfake  ev- 
ery evil  way  ;  in  a  pious  confecration  of  ourfelves  to 
God  ;  in  fervent  fupplication  of  his  divine  blefling  ; 
and  in  an  unfhaken  reliance  on  his  almighty  protec- 
tion. The  religious  example  of  our  CHIEF  MAGIS- 
TRATE, 

*  Proclamation, 


L    31     J 

TRATE,  who  dares  to  be  a  CHRISTIAN,  in  an  unbe- 
lieving age,  and  before  a  fcofiing  world,  points  us 
the  way,  and  fliews  us  a  token  for  good.  While  we 
have  fuch  men  for  our  Rulers,  and  while  the  People 
have  patriotifm  and  piety  enough>  to  fupport  th.  r 
meafures,  and  to  follow  their  examples  ;  we  ncc  d 
not  defpair.  Though  an  heft  Jhouid  encamp  agcihtft  us, 
our  heart  foall  not  fear  :  though  war  foould  rife  againjl 

us,  in  this  will  we  be  confident. GOD  is  our  refuge  a/ul 

Jirength,  a  very  prefent  help  in  trouble.  Therefore  ii.ll 
not  we  fear,  though  the  earth  be  removed,  and  though  the 
zizuntains  be  carried  into  the  midjl  of  ibc  fca. 


THE    END. 


M18O680 


H* 


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